The 1965 New Jersey gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1965. Incumbent Democrat Richard J. Hughes defeated Republican nominee Wayne Dumont with 57.39% of the vote. The gubernatorial elections from 1953 to 1965 are the last in New Jersey in which any party won more than two consecutive elections. This is the most recent time a Democrat was reelected Governor with a higher share of the vote than the previous election.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

1965 New Jersey gubernatorial election

← 1961 November 2, 1965 1969 →

Nominee Richard J. Hughes Wayne Dumont Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,279,568 915,996 Percentage 57.4% 41.1%

County results Hughes:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Dumont:      50–60%

Governor before election Richard J. Hughes Democratic Elected Governor Richard J. Hughes Democratic

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Primary elections were held on June 1, 1965.^[1] Hughes was easily re-elected over token opposition from William H. Clark, while Dumont won a narrow primary over fellow state senator Charles W. Sandman Jr. of Cape May County.

Bergen County voted Democratic for the first time since 1931, and since this election, the county has become a bellwether having voted for the winning candidate all but once since. Democrats simultaneously flipped both houses of the New Jersey legislature, a first since 1915.